File #: Int 1281-2025    Version: Name: Deadlines for installing natural gas detectors and to repeal section 908.10 of the building code relating thereto.
Type: Introduction Status: Laid Over in Committee
Committee: Committee on Housing and Buildings
On agenda: 5/28/2025
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York and the New York city building code, in relation to deadlines for installing natural gas detectors and to repeal section 908.10 of the building code relating thereto
Sponsors: Eric Dinowitz, Erik D. Bottcher, Robert F. Holden, Farah N. Louis, Chris Banks, Nantasha M. Williams, Amanda Farías, Kevin C. Riley, Linda Lee, Sandra Ung, Oswald Feliz, Julie Menin, Lincoln Restler, Francisco P. Moya, Diana I. Ayala, Althea V. Stevens, Lynn C. Schulman, David M. Carr, Inna Vernikov, Joann Ariola , Frank Morano, Vickie Paladino
Council Member Sponsors: 22
Summary: Local law 157 of 2016 required the installation of natural gas alarms in dwelling units on May 1 of the year after the department establishes applicable standards and rules for those alarms. This bill would postpone the natural gas alarm requirement and would instead provide that natural gas alarms be required no earlier than January 1, 2027. DOB would also be required to submit to the mayor and the Council, by July 1, 2026, a determination on if the department has been able to identify 4 distinct manufacturers of battery-powered natural gas alarms; if such determination finds an insufficient number of alarms, DOB would be required to extend the compliance date to January 1, 2029.
Indexes: Agency Rule-making Required, Report Required
Attachments: 1. Summary of Int. No. 1281-A, 2. Summary of Int. No. 1281, 3. Int. No. 1281, 4. May 28, 2025 - Stated Meeting Agenda, 5. Hearing Transcript - Stated Meeting 5-28-25, 6. Fiscal Impact Statement - City Council, 7. Fiscal Impact Statement - OMB, 8. Committee Report 6/3/25, 9. Hearing Testimony 6/3/25, 10. Proposed Int. No. 1281-A - 6/23/25

Proposed Int. No. 1281-A

 

By Council Members Dinowitz, Bottcher, Holden, Louis, Banks, Williams, Farías, Riley, Lee, Ung, Feliz, Menin, Restler, Moya, Ayala, Stevens, Schulman, Carr, Vernikov, Ariola, Morano and Paladino

 

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York and the New York city building code, in relation to deadlines for installing natural gas detectors and to repeal section 908.10 of the building code relating thereto

 

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

 

Section 1. Subparagraph (c) of paragraph 1 of subdivision b of section 27-2045 of the administrative code of the city New York, as added by local law number 157 for the year 2016, is amended to read as follows:

(c) [Provide] On or before January 1, 2027, provide and install one or more approved and operational natural gas detecting devices in accordance with [section 908.10] section 908.13 of the New York city building code or section [28-315.2.3 of the code] 28-315.2.4, as applicable, or, in the alternative for class B multiple dwellings, provide and install a line-operated zoned natural gas detecting system with central annunciation and central office tie-in for all public corridors and public spaces, pursuant to rules promulgated by the commissioner of buildings or by the commissioner in consultation with the department of buildings and the fire department. The commissioner of buildings may by rule extend the date by which such device or system must be installed after making a determination of the number of manufacturers of battery-powered natural gas alarms pursuant to section 28-315.2.4.1;

§ 2. Section 28-315.2.4 of the administrative code of the city of New York, as added by local law number 157 for the year 2016, is amended and a new section 28-315.2.4.1 is added to read as follows:

§ 28-315.2.4 Natural gas alarms. [Natural] On or before January 1, 2027, natural gas alarms shall be provided and installed in accordance with section [908.10] 908.13 of the New York city building code [on or before May 1 of the first year that commences after the department, by rule, establishes or adopts a standard governing the installation and location of natural gas alarms].

[Exception: In existing buildings, natural gas alarms shall not be required to comply with the power source and interconnection requirements for smoke alarms in accordance with Sections 907.2.11.2 through 907.2.11.3.]

§ 28-315.2.4.1 Market availability. No later than July 1, 2026, the commissioner shall submit to the mayor and the speaker of the council a determination of the market availability of battery-powered natural gas alarms. Such determination shall indicate whether the department has identified 4 or more distinct manufacturers of battery-powered natural gas alarms that comply with the requirements of section 908.13. If such determination indicates less than 4 such manufacturers, the commissioner shall by rule extend the date by which such alarms must be installed in accordance with section 28-315.2.4 to January 1, 2029.

 

§ 3. Sections 908.10, 908.10.1, and 908.10.2 of the New York city building code, as added by local law number 157 for the year 2016, are REPEALED.

§ 4. Section BC 908 of the New York city building code is amended by adding a new section 908.13 to be read as follows:

908.13 Natural gas alarms. Natural gas alarms listed in accordance with a standard established or adopted by department rule shall be provided and installed in accordance with department rules.

§ 5. This local law takes effect immediately.

FO/APM

LS #19005/19205/19490

6/18/2025 10:08 PM